Suction cleaner nozzle of the agitator type



Nov. 28, 1967 K. A. JONSSON 3,354,495

SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE OF THE AGITATOR TYPE Filed May 27, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet 1 7 H T Z6 65 INVENTOR 4/ as 5/ 43 vg ATTORNEY Nov. 28,1967 K. A. JONSSON 3,354,496

SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE OF THE AGITATOR TYPE 3 WW N mhm NE M Q 3 ON WmFiled May 27, 1965 INVENTOR 2W ,4 ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1967 K. A. JONSSON3,354,496

SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE OF THE AGITATOR TYPE Filed May 27, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 8

I B/Z;Z;IJTOR 4 A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 28, 1967 ABSTRACT OF THEDISSLGSURE A suction nozzle having an agitator which is at a suctionopening and driven by an electric motor, a hollow body for the motor andagitator through which flow of air is effected from the suction openingto an air outlet socket, the body having top and bottom sections which,when detachably connected together, function to mount the motor andprovide a pivotal mount for a second hollow cross arm of the air outletsocket which has a first hollow arm perpendicular thereto angularlymovabl about the axis of the second arm, and the motor being connectedto a source of electrical supply by conductors which extend throughpassages formed in the first and second hollow arms and project from thesecond cross arm of the air outlet socket lengthwise of the axis aboutwhich the first arm is angularly movable.

My invention relates to suction cleaner nozzles of the agitator type.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved suction cleanernozzle of a type which is adapted to be connected to a source of suctionand provided with an agitator driven by an electric motor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a suction cleaner nozzle ofthe type indicated which is of simple and compact construction, reliablein operation and adapted for economical manufacture.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent as the following description proceeds, and the features ofnovelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisspecification.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suction cleaner nozzle incorporatingthe novel features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view, partly broken away and in section, of thesuction cleaner nozzle illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken at line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken at line 44 of FIG. 3 with certain partsomitted to illustrate details more clearly;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragmentary vertical sectional views taken at lines6-6 and 77, respectively, of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of suitable connections for the outletsocket shown in FIGS. 1 and 3; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken at line 99 of FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 to 3 I have shown a suctioncleaner nozzle embodying my invention which comprises a hollow body 10to the narrow rear portion of which is connected a tubular air outletmember 11. The tubular member 11 serves as an air outlet socket adaptedto be connected to a suction line or con duit of a suction cleanerthrough which air is drawn when the suction cleaner is being operated.The hollow interior of the body 10 provides a passage through which airis drawn toward the outlet socket 11 from the region of an elongatedinlet opening 12.

The hollow body 10 comprises top and bottom sections 14 and 15,respectively, and a bottom plate 16 which functions as a base memberadapted to slide and move over a surface to be cleaned. The top andbottom sections 14 and 15 are detachably connected together by screws 17which are accessible at the bottom of the nozzle body 10 after thebottom plate 16 is removed. A major portion of the body 10 is defined bythe top body section 14 and the bottom plate 16, as best shown in FIGS.1 and 3. The top section 14 and bottom plate 16 are formed withoutwardly extending flanges 18 and 19, respectively, which extend aboutthe entire periphery of the body 10 and are detachably held together bya member 26 which is formed of resilient material and is U- shaped insection, as shown in FIG. 3.

The flanges 18 and 19 snugly fit in the U groove in the member 20 whichholds them tightly together. Thus, the resilient member 20 functions asa detachable connection for the top section 14 and bottom plate 16 toprovide an airtight seal between these parts and also serves as a bumperto protect objects against which the suction nozzle may strike whenbeing moved back and forth over a surface being cleaned. In addition,the bottom plate 16 may be detachably connected to the top section byscrews 21 accessible at the bottom of the body 10, as shown in FIG. 2.

The bottom plate is formed with a plurality of elongated slots which arein end-to-end relation and define the suction inlet 12. Two of suchslots 12a and 12b are shown in FIG. 2 at the vicinity of which isrotatably mounted an agitator 22 having bristles 23 which are arrangedto project radially outward through the suction inlet 12 andfrictionally contact the surface being cleaned, such as a rug, forexample, during movement of the nozzle body 10 over the surface. At eachend of the suction inlet 12, the bottom plate 16 is formed with flatdepressed zones 16a, as seen in FIG. 7, which are at a lower level thanthe rest of the bottom plate 16 and serve as skids to facilitatemovement of the body 10 over a surface being cleaned.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the agitator 22 is provided at its oppositeends with stub shafts 24 which are journaled in bearings 25 held incup-shaped members 26 formed of resilient material, such as rubber, forexample. The resilient cup-shaped members 26 are removably held ingrooves 27 formed in the top body section 14 by shoulders 28 formed onthe bottom plate 16. The hollow resilient members 26 receive cup-shapedcages 29 having outer enlarge-d portions 30 formed with inwardly turnedlips or flanges 31.

The stub shafts 24 are journaled in bushings 32 held in the cup-shapedcages 29. Suitable washers 33 impregnated with lubricant are disposed inthe enlarged portions 3i) of the cages 29 and formed with openingsthrough which the bushings 32 extend. Sealing diaphragrns 34 are heldabout the stub shafts 24 by the inturned lips 31 of the cages 2:9. Thesealing diaphragms 34- bear against the washers 33 and prevent flow oflubricant from the outer enlarged portions 30 of the cages 29.

The agitator 22 is driven by an electric motor 35 hav ing a shaft 36provided with a roller 37 at one end thereof. An endless belt 38 isdisposed about the roller 37 and a portion of the agitator 22 which isbetween the slots "9 3 12a and 12b and at which region no bristles arefixed to the agitator.

The electric motor 35 is housed in a space 39 defined by partitions orwall sections formed in the top and bottom body sections 14 and 15,respectively. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom body sectionincludes a bottom 40 and upstanding sides 41 and 41a which respectivelycoact with downwardly extending sides 42 and 42a of the top body section14. Hence, the space 39 is defined by portions of the top and bottombody sections 14 and 15 and the sides 41 and 42 and the sides 41a and42a of these body sections. As seen in FIG. 3, the front wall of thespace 39 includes the portions 14a and 15a of the sides 42 and 41 of thetop and bottom body sections 14 and 15, respectively. The rear wall ofthe space 39 includes the portions 14b and 15b of the sides 42a and 41aof the top and bottom body sections 14 and 15, respectively.

The end walls 43 and 44 of the space 39 are defined by portions of thetop and bottom body sections 14 and 15, respectively, which coact withone another in a manner similar to the portions 14a and 15a which definethe front Wall of the space 39. The end walls 43 and 44 are formed withopenings 45, as shown in FIG. 4. The electric motor 35 includes an outershell 46 having end heads or bells 46 to which apertured resilientblocks 47 are fixed at 48, as best shown in FIG. 3. The resilient blocks47 are clamped at the openings 45 between the top and bottom bodysections 14 and 15 by the screws 17 which detachably connect the bodysections together.

The part of the motor shell 46 between the end bells 46' is enveloped bya ring-shaped body 49 which is formed of resilient material, such asfoamed plastic, for example. The ring-shaped body 49 snugly fits aboutthe the outer shell 46 of the motor 35 and is held in the space 39 byparts 50 projecting inward from parts of the top and bottom bodysections 14 and 15 defining the front and rear walls of the space 39, asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The ring-shaped body 49 functions to prevent turning of the motor 35about its axis and the resilient blocks 47 function to absorb and takeup tangential and axial load imparted to the motor 35. A fan 51 isprovided on the motor shaft 36 for circulating air through the motor 35to effect cooling thereof. In the preferred embodiment being described,the ring-shaped body 49 enveloping the motor 35 functions to block offflow of air past the exterior of the motor. The top body section 14 isformed with outwardly sloping side walls at opposite sides of its centerline which are formed with slits or apertures 52. The two groups ofslits 52 are directly above openings 46" in .the end bells 46 of themotor shell. The fan 51 draws ambient air through one group of slits 52into the interior of the body 10. Such air flows through the openings 46at one end of the motor shell 46 and is forced through the motor 35 bythe fan 51 and discharged through the openings 46 at the other end ofthe motor shell 46 and the group of slits 52 at the opposite side of thebody 10. With this arrangement, the motor 35 is effectively cooled bycirculating cooling air in a path of flow which is independent of andseparated from the path of flow of dust laden air drawn into the bodythrough the suction inlet 12, as will be explained presently.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the top body section 14 is provided withpartitions or walls 53, 54, 55 and 14c which extend downward from theunderside of the top body section to the bottom plate 16 and define aspace 56. Within the space 56 is positioned a switch 57 connected in anelectrical circuit for connecting and disconnecting the electric motor35 to and from a source of electrical supply. The electrical circuitincludes conductors 58 and 59 which are connected to the switch 57 andextend through the interior of the body 10 to the rear thereof, as willbe explained presently. The switch 57 is provided with an operatingmember 60 which projects upward through an opening 60a in the top bodysection 14 and is accessible at the top of the body 10, as seen in FIG.1.

A body 61 of resilient material is disposed in the space 56 which restsagainst the bottom plate 16 and resiliently biases the switch 57 againstthe underside of the top body section 14. The resilient body 61 yieldswhen excessive force is applied to the operating member 60 and in thisway protects the switch 57 from being injured or damaged. Further, thebottom of the resilient body 61 bears against the joint formed by thewalls of the top body section 14 and the bottom plate 16 to provide anairtight seal which prevents dust laden air drawn into the interior ofthe body 10 through the suction inlet 12 from passing into the switchspace 56.

It will be noted that the walls or partitions 53, 54, 55 and extenddownward from the underside of the top body section 14 to the bottomplate 16. If desired, the motor space 39 may be formed in a similarmanner by providing walls at the underside of the top body section 14which extend to the body plate 16. In such case, the motor 35 may besupported by the resilient blocks 47 in slots formed in certain of thewalls and the entire assembly, including the ring-shaped body 49enveloping the motor shell 46, may be clamped between the top bodysection 14 and bottom plate 16 by the connecting screws 21.

The outlet socket 11 is formed with a hollow sleeve 62 which is closedat its opposite ends and embraced between parts of the top and bottombody sections 14 and 15 When they are secured together by the screws 17.As best shown in FIG. 1, the top body section 14 is formed with aU-shaped recess 63 at the narrow rear end thereof having spaced arms 64formed with parts which receive the ends of the hollow sleeve 62, aswill be explained presently.

The bottom body section 15 is formed with a curved seat 65 provided withan opening 66, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The spaced arms 64 of thetop body section 14 are formed with wall parts 67 having flanges 68which extend toward one another and have inner peripheral surfaces 69which are of arcuate form. The flanges 68 of the wall parts 67 and thecurved seat 65, respectively, of the top and bottom body sections 14 and15 cooperate with one another to provide structure for mounting theoutlet socket 11 for angular movement on the body 10 when the top andbottom body sections 14 and 15 are brought together and secured to oneanother by the screws 17, the ends of the curved seat 65 bearing againstthe similarly curved wall parts 67. The flanged wall parts 67 of the topbody section 14 form flanged end walls A and B, respectively, betweenthe recessed ends 76 of which the hollow sleeve 62 is disposed, therebypreventing axial movement thereof in the body 10.

The top and bottom body sections 14 and 15 are provided with walls orpartitions which define air passageways through which air drawn into thesuction inlet 12 flows toward the outlet socket 11. The air drawn intothe suction inlet 12 passes into a space 22a extending across the frontof the nozzle body 10 in front of the electric motor 35. The interior ofthe body 10 includes a partition 71 which is U-shaped and includes aclosed end formed by a partition of the bottom body section 15 andspaced apart side arms formed by the walls 140 and partitions 14dextending outward from the front ends of the arms 140 to the sides ofthe hollow body 10.

The end walls 43 and 44 of the space 39 for the electric motor 35 andspaced side arms 14c define air passageways 72 at both sides of themotor 35. The air drawn into the front space 22a flows rearward throughthe passageways 72 at each side of the electric motor 35. The airpassing through the passageways 72 merge in the passageway 73 at therear of the electric motor 35.

The upwardly extending portion 74 of the outlet socket 11, which may bereferred to as a first part, is perpendicular to the hollow sleeve orsecond part 62 of the outlet socket. An elongated tubular member 75, thelower end of which is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, is connected to theoutlet socket 11 and serves as a handle for manipulating the nozzle body10 over a surface being cleaned. The upper end of the tubular member 75may be connected to one end of a suction inlet of a suction cleanerhaving a motor-fan unit for producing a partial vacuum to cause air tobe drawn into the suction inlet 12 of the nozzle body 10.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the portion 74 of the outlet socket 11 istapered and receives the lower tapered end of the tubular member 75 toprovide a telescopic fit between these parts. The lower end of thetubular member 75 is secured to the outlet socket 11 by a rivet 76. Theoutlet socket 11, which preferably is formed of electrically insulatingmaterial, is provided with a terminal board 77 of insulating materialwhich is fixed to the outer surface of the portion 74 of the outletsocket 11 by the rivet 76. An electrical cord 78, having conductors 79and 80, is frictionally held on the outlet socket 11 at 81 by a cover 82for the terminal board 77. The rivet 76 is internally threaded at 76a tothreadedly receive a cap screw 83 for detachably connecting the cover 82to the outlet socket 11.

The conductors 79 and 86 are connected to the top terminals of theterminal board 77, and the conductors 58 and 59 are connected to thebottom terminals of the terminal board.

The conductors 58 and 59 extend through the outlet socket 11 to theswitch 57 through passage means formed in the walls of the outlet socket11. The upright portion 74 of the outlet socket is formed with elongatedopenings 84 and 85 and the sleeve portion 62 thereof is formed with anaxially extending opening 86. The conductors 58 and 59 extend throughthe elongated openings 84 and 85, respectively, and then pass togetherthrough the opening 86 in the sleeve 62 of the outlet socket 11. Theconductors 58 and 59 extend from the sleeve 62 through a central opening87 in the end wall B at one end of the sleeve. Between the sleeve 62 ofthe outlet socket 11 and the switch 57 the conductors 58 and 59 areenveloped by a covering of an electrical cord 88, as best shown in FIG.2. With this arrangement the conductors 58 and 59 can readily be rotatedwhen the outlet socket 11 is angularly moved up and down by the handle75 without subjecting the conductors to bending in the direction oftheir length which would have a tendency to break the conductors.Further, in the arrangement shown and described above, the electricalconductors 58 and 59 are out of the path of flow of dirt laden airflowing from the suction inlet 12 through the interior of the nozzlebody 10 into the outlet socket 11. As.explained above, the conductors 58and 59 and the switch 57 form part of an electrical circuit whichincludes connections (not shown) to the motor 35 whereby the switch 57can be operated to connect and disconnect the motor 35 to and from thesource of electrical supply.

While a single embodiment of the invention is herein illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of elements without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limitation in thisrespect, the invention is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A suction nozzle comprising a hollow body having a suction inlet andan air outlet socket adapted to be connected to a source of supply ofair at a partial vacuum and means providing a path of flow for airtherebetween, an agitator mounted for rotation at the vicinity of thesuction inlet, means including an electric motor for driving theagitator, the body comprising top and bottom body sections, means fordetachably connecting the body sections, and structure including thebody sections for mounting the motor in the hollow body and forpivotally mounting the outlet socket for angular movement on the bodywhen the body sections are detachably connected together, the air outletsocket comprising a first part normal to the axis about which it isangularly mov able and a second part perpendicular to the first part,the axis of the second part coinciding with the axis about which theoutlet socket is angularly movable, the top and bottom body sectionshaving complementary parts receiving and holding the ends of the secondpart of the outlet socket and the part of the bottom body sectionproviding a seat for the second part of the air outlet socket, the seatand the second part of the outlet socket having openings which are inalignment and enable air to flow in the path of flow from the interiorof the body to the air outlet socket, the air outlet socket being formedwith passage means in the first and seconds parts thereof, and meansincluding electrical conductors for connecting the motor to the sourceof electrical supply, the electrical conductors extending through thepassage means and projecting from the second part of the air outletsocket substantially parallel to the axis about which the air outletsocket is angularly movable.

2. A suction nozzle as set forth in claim 1 in which the air outletsocket includes piping, a terminal board mounted on the piping, anelectrical cord fixed to the piping and connected to the terminal board,and the electrical conductors in the passage means of the outlet socketbeing connected to the terminal board.

3. A suction nozzle as set forth in claim 2 in which the passage meansin the outlet socket for the electrical conductors is in the wall of thesocket and out of the path of flow of air through the outlet socket.

4. A suction nozzle as set forth in claim 2 in which the piping servesas a handle for manipulating the nozzle over a surface being cleaned, acover for the terminal board, and means for fastening the cover on theterminal board connecting the piping to the outlet socket.

5. A suction nozzle as set forth in claim 4 in which the fastening meansincludes a first part for permanently connecting the piping to theoutlet socket and a second part operatively associated with the firstpart for detachably connecting the cover on the terminal board.

6. A suction nozzle as set forth in claim 1 in which the second part ofthe air outlet socket is closed at its ends and formed with an openingin the wall thereof through which air discharged from the path of flowin the nozzle body is introduced into the outlet socket, one closed endof the second part of the outlet socket being apertured and throughwhich the electrical conductors extend for connecting the motor to thesource of electrical supply.

7. A suction nozzle comprising (a) a housing having a suction inlet andan angularly movable hollow air outlet socket adapted to be connected toa source of supply of air at a partial vacuum and means providing a pathof flow for air therebetween, the air outlet socket having a firsthollow arm angularly movable about an axis and a second hollow cross armintersecting the first arm and disposed at the axis,

(b) an agitator mounted for rotation at the vicinity of the suctioninlet,

(c) means including an electric motor for rotating the agitator, themotor being disposed between and removed from the suction inlet and theaxis of the air outlet socket,

(d) the housing comprising a first section functioning as the top partthereof and a bottom plate functioning as the bottom part thereof and asecond section between the first section and the bottom plate, thebottom plate being apertured to provide the suction inlet,

(e) structure for detachably connecting the first and second sectionsand bottom plate together,

(f) the bottom plate, when the latter and first and second sections aredetachably connected together, bearing against the second section andthe latter in turn bearing against the first section,

(g) the first and second sections, when they are detachably connectedtogether, forming a compartment for the motor, and

(h) the connecting structure comprising first means including the firstsection and second means including the second section which, when thefirst and second sections are detachably connected together, function(1) to clamp and mount the motor in the compartment and (2) provide twopairs of spaced apart top and bottom coacting portions of a pivotalmount for the ends of the second cross arm of the air outlet socketabout which the latter is angularly movable.

8. A suction nozzle as set forth in claim 7 in which (a) the two pairsof spaced apart top and bottom coacting portions of the first and secondsections,

when the first and second sections are detachably connected together,receive and hold the ends of the second arm of the air outlet socket toform the pivotal mount,

(b) the second section having a portion functioning as a seat for thesecond cross arm, and

c the which seat and second cross arm having openings are in alignmentfor air to flow in the path of fiow from the housing to the air outletsocket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 6/1956 GreatBritain.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

1. A SUCTION NOZZLE COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY HAVING A SUCTION INLET ANDAN AIR OUTLET SOCKET ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF SUPPLY OFAIR AT A PARTIAL VACUUM AND MEANS PROVIDING A PATH OF FLOW FOR AIRTHEREBETWEEN, AN AGITATOR MOUNTED FOR ROTATION AT THE VICINITY OF THESUCTION INLET, MEANS INCLUDING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR DRIVING THEAGITATOR, THE BODY COMPRISING TOP AND BOTTOM BODY SECTIONS, MEANS FORDETACHABLY CONNECTING THE BODY SECTIONS, AND STRUCTURE INCLUDING THEBODY SECTIONS FOR MOUNTING THE MOTOR IN THE HOLLOW BODY AND FORPIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE OUTLET SOCKET FOR ANGULAR MOVEMENT ON THE BODYWHEN THE BODY SECTIONS ARE DETACHABLY CONNECTED TOGETHER, THE AIR OUTLETSOCKET COMPRISING A FIRST PART NORMAL TO THE AXIS ABOUT WHICH IT ISANGULARLY MOVABLE AND A SECOND PART PERPENDICULAR TO THE FIRST PART, THEAXIS OF THE SECOND PART COINCIDING WITH THE AXIS ABOUT WHICH THE OUTLETSOCKET IS ANGULARLY MOVABLE, THE TOP AND BOTTOM BODY SECTIONS HAVINGCOMPLEMENTARY PARTS RECEIVING AND HOLDING THE ENDS OF THE SECOND PART OFTHE OUTLET SOCKET AND THE PART OF THE BOTTOM BODY SECTION PROVIDING ASEAT FOR THE SECOND PART OF THE AIR OUTLET SOCKET, THE SEAT AND THESECOND PART OF THE OUTLET SOCKET HAVING OPENINGS WHICH ARE IN ALIGNMENTAND ENABLE AIR TO FLOW IN THE PATH OF FLOW FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE BODYTO THE AIR OUTLET SOCKET, THE AIR OUTLET SOCKET BEING FORMED WITHPASSAGE MEANS IN THE FIRST AND SECOND PARTS THEREOF, AND MEANS INCLUDINGELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS FOR CONNECTING THE MOTOR TO THE SOURCE OFELECTRICAL SUPPLY, THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS EXTENDING THROUGH THEPASSAGE MEANS AND PROJECTING FROM THE SECOND PART OF THE AIR OUTLETSOCKET SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS ABOUT WHICH THE AIR OUTLETSOCKET IS ANGULARLY MOVABLE.